Market Publique, an eBay for vintage?

Lena | August 28, 2009 | 0 Comments

QoV: Where do get most of your vintage clothes from?

Pamela Castillo: Vintage is all about always looking, always searching. I go anywhere and everywhere to get a perfect little sundress, so it’s hard to tell. I feature a lot of the local vintage stores I visit on the Market Publique blog, as well as stores in other cities where I’ve traveled to. I also go to thrift stores and estate sales.

QoV: Do you have any tips for people wanting to buy vintage for the first time?

Pamela Castillo: Start with what you love the most. Love little vintage clutches? You can easily incorporate them into any oufit, be it a little cocktail dress or a simple tee and jeans. Plus you can carry one in your larger bag and use it when you need to look more polished. If jewelry is your thing, then adding vintage necklaces or vintage cocktail rings, and maybe a lucite bangle or two to your outfits will make them stand out in a unique way.

If you love dresses, start there. Think of your favorite designer and read up on what their inspiration is to see what decade you should start with. Love Marc Jacobs? Try looking for Sixties shifts in bright colors. How about Giambattista Valli and Oscar de la Renta? You will probably love the femininity of the Fifties New Look. More into Alexander Wang or Gareth Pugh? Try the sharp silhouettes of the Eighties with the big shoulders and nipped waists.

Most designers look to the past for inspiration, so why shouldn’t you? You can even get styling tips on how to update the look by looking at their runway shows and seeing what they did: added a bootie or super-strappy sandal, styled the hair slick and simple, kept the color palette in certain shades, etc.

QoV: And finally what is the best piece of advice you have ever been given about vintage fashion?

Pamela Castillo: It’s a toss up: 1. Get it tailored. A garment that fits perfectly will showcase you, not what you’re wearing. You’ll feel more comfortable in your clothes and you will look your best because the garment is working for you and enhancing your shape. 2. If the stains haven’t come out, or it smells like mothballs or worse, pass, pass, pass! Chances are you won’t be able to take it out yourself. And nobody looks good in something stained or smelly!